April 3, 2026
New York Yankees left-hander
Carlos Rodon (elbow, hamstring) said that he is hoping to throw off a mound on Saturday, and that his next outing will likely be in a controlled environment like a live batting practice session, according to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News. Rodon hopes to start a minor-league rehab assignment after that if all goes according to plan. The 33-year-old had offseason surgery on his left elbow and recently suffered a minor setback due to right-hamstring tightness. It's not a serious issue, though, and he could be ready to make his 2026 season debut before the end of April if he can avoid another setback once he begins pitching in minor-league games. When healthy, Rodon has the potential to be a top-of-the-rotation arm for fantasy managers on one of the best teams in baseball, so he should be stashed in an IL spot everywhere. He was an All-Star for the third time in his career in 2025, going 18-9 with a 3.09 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, and 203:73 K:BB in his 33 starts (195 1/3 innings pitched).
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Daily News - Gary Phillips
April 3, 2026
The Boston Red Sox placed right-hander
Garrett Whitlock on paternity leave on Friday, according to Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic. Whitlock will be away from the Red Sox for up to three days as he leaves for the birth of his child. The 29-year-old has become a full-time reliever again after he made 23 starts for the BoSox from 2022 to 2024. In his three relief outings so far in 2026 as a late-inning setup man for Boston, Whitlock has thrown three scoreless innings while giving up two hits, walking two, and striking out four. He is the team's primary eighth-inning setup man in front of closer
Aroldis Chapman, and he should once again be a strong source of holds in fantasy formats that count the category. Whitlock settled into a relief role nicely in 2025 and had a career-high 31.1% strikeout rate in the late innings.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - Jen McCaffrey
April 3, 2026
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect
Konnor Griffin is batting seventh in his major-league debut on Friday against the visiting Baltimore Orioles and right-hander
Kyle Bradish, according to MLB.com. It didn't take long for the Pirates to call up the No. 1 overall prospect in baseball after he went 7-for-16 (.438) with three doubles, an RBI, four runs scored, and three stolen bases in five games on the farm with Triple-A Indianapolis. It's not a big surprise that Griffin is up in the big leagues this early. He hit just .171 (7-for-41) in 16 Grapefruit League games during spring training, but Griffin also had four home runs, nine RBI, and a stolen base. In addition to getting the early-season call-up, the 19-year-old is expected to land a nine-year, $140 million contract extension soon. If he wasn't already, Griffin should be rostered in all fantasy leagues and could make an immediate impact across all categories. If he gets off to a quick start, don't be surprised to see the Pirates move him up in the batting order sooner than later.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder
Chase DeLauter (foot) is back in the lineup for Friday's game against the visiting Chicago Cubs and right-hander
Cade Horton, according to MLB.com. DeLauter is serving as the Guardians' designated hitter and will bat second in the lineup. The 24-year-old fouled a ball off his foot in Tuesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, but X-rays came back negative, and he'll serve as the DH for the team's home opener on Friday. The former 16th overall pick in 2022 out of James Madison has been a hot early-season waiver-wire pickup because of his high upside and hot start in 2026. Through his first six major-league games, DeLauter has gone 6-for-22 (.273) with four home runs, five RBI, five runs scored, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Fantasy managers who have DeLauter rostered will want to get him back into their lineups this weekend.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
New York Yankees outfielder/designated hitter
Giancarlo Stanton is back in the starting lineup on Friday against the visiting Miami Marlins and right-hander
Eury Perez, serving as the DH and hitting fifth in the batting order, per MLB.com. Stanton will be back in action for the Yanks after getting a normal day off on Wednesday. The 36-year-old veteran will be rested occasionally to keep him healthy for the long haul. So far in his first five games of the 2026 season, Stanton has looked good at the plate, going 10-for-20 with a home run, two doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored. Fantasy managers will want to get Stanton back in their lineups against Perez, whom he's gone 2-for-4 against in his career with one RBI and a 1.250 OPS.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
Chris Duncan will look to extend his win streak when he takes on former title challenger Renato Moicano in the main event of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Duncan was last seen in the Octagon in December at UFC 323, where he defeated Terrance McKinney with a first-round anaconda choke submission. Prior to that, he defeated Mateusz Rebecki via unanimous decision. Duncan is currently on a four-fight winning streak. DraftKings sees Duncan as the favorite with a salary of $8,800.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Detroit Tigers rookie infielder
Kevin McGonigle has been bumped up to leadoff for Friday's game against the visiting St. Louis Cardinals and right-hander
Michael McGreevy, according to MLB.com. Infielder
Colt Keith will take a seat on the bench for this one. McGonigle, who was considered the consensus No. 2 overall prospect in baseball coming into the season, made the big-league roster out of spring training and has looked mature beyond his years in his first 22 major-league at-bats, going 8-for-22 (.364) with five RBI, four runs scored, three walks, and three strikeouts in his first six games. McGonigle will be starting at third base on Friday for the fourth time, and he's also made three starts at shortstop, so fantasy managers should be able to get dual eligibility out of him in his rookie campaign. If McGonigle continues to perform like he has in the early going, he'll be an absolute steal for fantasy managers who landed him in single-year mixed leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: MLB.com
April 3, 2026
Former lightweight title challenger Renato Moicano will look to bounce back when he takes on Chris Duncan in the main event of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. At UFC 311, he stepped into the UFC 311 main event against Islam Makhachev at the last minute after Arman Tsarukyan injured his back; however, Moicano suffered a first-round submission loss. More recently, Moicano fought at UFC 317 and suffered a unanimous decision loss to Beneil Dariush. DraftKings sees Moicano as the underdog with a salary of $7,400.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Tabatha Ricci will look to win back-to-back fights when she faces off against former title challenger Virna Jandiroba in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Ricci was last seen in action in July at UFC Abu Dhabi, where she got back in the win column by finishing Amanda Ribas via second-round TKO. Outside of former two-time titleholder Zhang Weili, who relinquished the title to move up a weight class, there's no leading contender to face newly crowned champion Mackenzie Dern. DraftKings sees Ricci as a slight favorite with a salary of $8,300.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Former title challenger Virna Jandiroba will look to get back in the win column when she takes on Tabatha Ricci in the co-main event of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Jandiroba was last seen in action in October at UFC 321, where she fought for the women's strawweight belt, but unfortunately for Jandiroba, she wasn't able to capture the title, having lost via unanimous decision to Mackenzie Dern. Looking to rebound from the first title fight setback of her career, Jandiroba enters this fight as a slight underdog with a salary of $7,900 on DraftKings.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Brendson Ribeiro will look to get back in the win column when he faces off against undefeated Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev on the main card of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Since signing with the UFC, Ribeiro has had six fights inside the Octagon, having recorded two wins and dropping the other four. Ribeiro was last seen competing in September at UFC Paris, where he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Oumar Sy. Prior to that, he suffered a first-round TKO loss to Shamil Gaziev. DraftKings sees Ribeiro as a massive underdog with a salary of $6,300.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Abdul-Rakhman Yakhyaev will look to remain unbeaten as he facess off against Brendson Ribeiro on the main card of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. It's safe to say there is a lot of hype around Yakhyaev who enters this fight with a eight fight winning streak. Yakhyaev has needed just a combined 63 seconds to finish his last two fights, having won by TKO and more recently, by submission. DraftKings sees Yakhyaev as the biggest favorite on the card with a salary of $9,900.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Ethyn Ewing will look to extend his win streak when he takes on Rafael Estevam on the main card of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Ewing made his UFC debut in his last fight back in November at UFC 322, where he defeated Malcolm Wellmaker by unanimous decision. He trains out of CSW Training Center and is currently 9-2 as a pro. DraftKings sees Ewing as the favorite with a salary of $8,600.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Rafael Estevam will look to remain undefeated when he faces off against Ethyn Ewing on the main card of UFC Vegas 115 on Saturday. Estevam earned his UFC contract in 2022 by beating Joao Elias via second-round TKO on Dana White's Contender Series, and since then, he's gone 3-0 in the UFC. He was last seen in action in August at UFC Vegas 108, where he defeated Felipe Bunes via unanimous decision. DraftKings sees Estevam as the underdog with a salary of $7,600.
--Alen KurbasicSource: UFC
April 3, 2026
Boston Red-Sox right-handed pitcher
Johan Oviedo (elbow) was placed on the Injured List Friday morning with a right elbow strain. The length of the IL stint is unknown at this point, as well as the corresponding move, but Oviedo struggled mightily in his first relief appearance of the year against the Houston Astros on March 30, allowing six hits, four earned runs, one walk, and a pair of home runs in three and 2/3 innings of work. It was his only appearance of the season thus far, so the Red Sox must have noticed something with how that outing went to place him on the IL four days later. It is worth noting that his velocity was down two and a half miles per hour in that first outing. Oviedo doesn't have much fantasy value at this time, as he is being deployed as a middle-inning long reliever, making him a drop in all fantasy formats.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: Chris Cotillo
April 3, 2026
Atlanta Braves first baseman
Matt Olson was tearing the cover off the ball Thursday night as the Braves dismantled the Arizona Diamondbacks 17-2. Olson was leading the charge for the Braves' offense, going 3-for-5 with three RBI, three runs, a home run, and a walk. His home run came in the first inning off Diamondbacks' starter,
Ryne Nelson. The Braves are now sitting at 5-2 on the season, and Olson is slashing an impressive .321/.367/.571 with one home run, five RBI, five runs scored, and four doubles. Olson remains one of the top options at the first baseman position, and is a must-start in all formats. Additionally, he is a model of consistency, having played in all 162 games for four straight seasons and posting over 685 plate appearances each season, which allows him to continue to rack up counting stats. The Braves finish out the weekend in Arizona, where Olson will face two right-handed pitchers and a left-hander on Sunday.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Diamondbacks beat writer José M. Romero reported on Thursday night that X-rays were negative on Diamondbacks' young star
Jordan Lawlar (wrist), who was hit by a pitch on the wrist Thursday night. He will have an additional CT scan on Friday, but the negative results are encouraging news after he exited early in Thursday's contest. He was starting in left field in this contest and was replaced by
Tim Tawa after the injury. Before exiting, Lawlar hit his first Major League home run, which was a solo shot in the third inning off of Braves' right-hander,
Reynaldo Lopez. Lawlar is off to a good start this season, slashing .333/.400/.556 with one homerun, two RBI, three runs scored, and one stolen base. Fantasy managers will want to wait and hear the news from the CT scan on Friday, but for now, Lawlar should be considered day-to-day.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: José M. Romero
April 3, 2026
New England Patriots wide receiver
Kayshon Boutte continues to trend up in dynasty leagues ahead of his fourth NFL season. Boutte turned in the best season of his young career in 2025, catching 33 passes for 551 yards and six touchdowns, despite missing three games. He ultimately finished as the WR51 in PPR leagues. This wasn't good enough to consistently get him in fantasy lineups, but it was still the best mark of his career and earned him occasional flex appeal. In terms of dynasty fantasy football, Boutte's outlook is trending up. He entered this offseason as the team's No. 2 receiver, and after the team replaced
Stefon Diggs with
Romeo Doubs, he remains the No. 2 receiver. In fact, he's due for even more targets this season, since Doubs presumably won't take on all 102 of Diggs' vacated targets. Barring an
A.J. Brown trade or a flashy receiver selection in the NFL Draft, Boutte should open 2026 as the No. 2 receiver in New England, giving him WR3/flex upside in this
Drake Maye-led offense. He can still be acquired for cheap, so receiver-needy fantasy managers should consider sending out a trade offer for Boutte in dynasty leagues.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles tight end
Dallas Goedert had the best season of his career in 2025, logging career-high marks in catches (60) and touchdowns (11). He also had 591 receiving yards. Goedert ultimately finished as the overall TE7 in PPR leagues, despite missing two games. His big season earned him a one-year contract extension in Philadelphia, where he's the undisputed No. 1 tight end and should maintain a sizable role, especially around the goal line. Goedert's ceiling could climb even higher if the Eagles trade away wide receiver
A.J. Brown, because the 31-year-old tight end would assume a lot of his vacated targets. The Eagles are also expected to have an improved offense in 2026 under new offensive coordinator
Sean Mannion. The stars are aligning for Goedert to have another top-10 finish in 2026, and there's no disputing that he has top-five upside. However, given that he's 31 and only under contract for one more season, he's worth selling high in dynasty leagues. As it stands, he ranks #22 among tight ends in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Minnesota Twins' right-handed reliever,
Cole Sands, appeared in his second game of the 2026 season on Thursday against the Kansas City Royals and allowed his first run of the season, and more concerningly from a fantasy standpoint, was deployed in a non-save situation. He was brought in to start the eighth inning with the Twins up 2-0 in that contest.
Justin Topa ended up getting the save for the Twins in the ninth, while
Taylor Rogers came in to record the last out of the eighth inning, as Sands was only able to record the first two outs of the inning after allowing two hits and the earned run on 11 pitches, nine of which were strikes. From a fantasy standpoint, this opens up the possibility that the Twins will not deploy this bullpen conventionally, where Sands will be guaranteed to pick up most, if not all, ninth-inning opportunities after recording a save in the Twins' first win in Baltimore, and they will be deployed depending on matchup and where the opponents are in their lineup, which hinders Sands' fantasy value as a true closer. Sands' fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on this situation as the season progresses.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
New York Giants tight end
Theo Johnson had a breakout campaign in 2025, catching 45 passes for 528 yards and five touchdowns. He finished Year 2 in the NFL as the overall TE18 in fantasy football (PPR), and he firmly established himself not only as the Giants' top tight end but also as one of
Jaxson Dart's favorite targets. The bad news for Johnson is that he probably won't be Dart's top target in 2026.
Malik Nabers (knee) is returning from a torn ACL, giving Dart a superstar receiver worthy of 175 targets. We also expect newcomers
Calvin Austin III and
Darnell Mooney to have decent roles in the passing game. Meanwhile, running backs
Cam Skattebo (ankle) and
Tyrone Tracy Jr. will handle their fair share of volume. Finally, Johnson faces competition within his own position group after tight end
Isaiah Likely followed head coach John Harbaugh from Baltimore to New York. With so many mouths to feed, it's hard to imagine that Johnson will be able to fetch another 70+ targets and 40+ receptions in 2026. He is immensely talented, but the state of the offense will likely drop him to the low-end TE2 or high-end TE3 tier next year. He's a hold in most dynasty leagues, or a potential sell if you can find someone who still believes in his fantasy outlook long-term. Johnson has fallen to #34 among tight ends in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Chicago Bears running back
Kyle Monangai had an impressive rookie season, and he's pushing to take on even more opportunities in his second pro campaign. A glaring Year 2 breakout candidate, Monangai finished last season with 783 rushing yards, 164 receiving yards, and five touchdowns across 17 games, despite not carving out a significant role until Week 7. From Week 7-18, he ranked as the overall RB23 in PPR leagues. The 23-year-old was able to produce at such a high level despite operating as the backup to
D'Andre Swift. Both backs had strong seasons, and Swift consistently served as the lead back over Monangai, other than the one game he missed in Week 9. This Ben Johnson-led Bears offense showed that it can support two fantasy-relevant running backs, and we don't expect that to change in 2026. Going forward, Monangai should carve out an even larger role in his second pro season. In fact, he's probably going to get a chance to prove that he deserves to be the Bears' every-down back after Swift's contract expires next offseason. Even after his strong season and RB30 finish, Monangai continues to be an intriguing buy-low candidate in dynasty leagues. He currently ranks #28 among running backs in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings, but there's no disputing that he has top-12 upside long-term.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Minnesota Twins' right-handed pitcher
Taj Bradley has performed well through two starts this season, throwing 10 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing eight hits, one earned run, four walks, 12 strikeouts, and posting a 0.87 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Bradley has shown flashes in the pan throughout his first couple of seasons at the big league level with the Tampa Bay Rays before being dealt to Minnesota this past offseason, but has not been able to consistently string starts together throughout his four-year MLB career. So much so that it resulted in a trip to Triple-A last season with the Rays organization. Pitching for the Twins, who are currently 2-4 to start the season, likely aren't going to be serious contenders in 2026, which will likely give Bradley a longer leash to see what he can really do, considering he's 25-years young, making him worth a waiver-wire add because of his potential strikeout upside. In his first season in MLB back in 2023, Bradley posted a 28.3 percent strike rate. Bradley's next turn in the rotation is lining up to be a much tougher matchup against their other AL Central opponent, the Detroit Tigers, early next week.
--Nicho RoesslerSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Detroit Lions wide receiver
Amon-Ra St. Brown has solidified himself as one of the most talented and consistent players in dynasty fantasy football. He has finished as the overall WR3 for three consecutive seasons, catching 117 passes for 1,401 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2025. In addition to being consistent in terms of fantasy points, he has also been dependable health-wise. St. Brown hasn't missed a game since 2023, and in total, he has been sidelined just twice during his five-year career. The 26-year-old has shown that he,
Jameson Williams,
Jahmyr Gibbs, and
Sam LaPorta can all co-exist in a high-octane Detroit offense. St. Brown continues to be a flashy target in dynasty trades. You won't be able to get him at a discount, but you can also rest assured that he'll continue to produce at an elite level once he's on your roster. He currently ranks #6 among wide receivers in RotoBaller's dynasty rankings, positioning him firmly in the second tier at his position.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver
Xavier Worthy continues to be an unappealing option in dynasty fantasy football leagues. Worthy played in 14 games last season, amassing just 42 catches, 532 yards, and one receiving touchdown. He finished the year as the overall WR59, which was a significant step backward from his WR33 finish as a rookie in 2024. His rookie season showed that he's capable of being a top-36 fantasy receiver, but whether he'll actually be able to reproduce that type of campaign in the future remains uncertain. There was a perfect opportunity for Worthy to break out as
Rashee Rice missed nine games due to suspension and injury, but the Texas product failed to live up to expectations. Going forward, there are rumblings that Rice may be suspended again. Worthy averaged 12.8 fantasy points (PPR) per game when he was healthy and Rice was suspended last year, but as soon as Rice came back, Worthy's fantasy production dwindled. The 22-year-old still projects as the No. 2 receiver in Kansas City long-term, and that's not good for his dynasty outlook. He currently ranks #50 among receivers in RotoBaller's latest dynasty rankings.
--Andersen PickardSource: RotoBaller
April 3, 2026
Detroit Red Wings right wing Patrick Kane once again rewrote the history books with a three-point effort in Thursday's 4-2 road win over the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming the NHL's all-time leading scorer among American players. The former MVP scored Detroit's game-winning goal and contributed two assists, including one on the power play. Earlier this season, Kane surpassed Mike Modano as the top-scoring U.S.-born player. Now, he's also ahead of Brett Hull on the all-time scoring list. Hull was born in Canada but represented the United States. Kane has scored 1,393 points (506 goals, 887 assists) in 1,362 career games. On Thursday night, he reached the 50-point mark for this season, boasting 14 goals and 36 assists through 60 outings. Kane has turned back the clock recently, tallying two goals and six assists during a four-game point streak.
--Taavi PailkSource: ESPN
April 3, 2026
Winnipeg Jets defenseman Elias Salomonsson is in concussion protocol, head coach Scott Arniel told reporters after Thursday's 3-0 loss to the Dallas Stars. Salomonsson was on the ice for two of the Stars' goals but left the action midway through the second period. The 21-year-old couldn't complete the game after a hit from Stars forward Jason Robertson. Winnipeg will likely be without Salomonsson for Saturday's trip to Columbus. Salomonsson, a second-round draft pick from 2022, has made his first 32 NHL appearances this season. He has registered five points (one goal, four assists), 37 SOG, 27 blocks, and 50 hits. Jacob Bryson and Ville Heinola are the options to replace him in the lineup.
--Taavi PailkSource: TSN
April 3, 2026
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitching prospect
Noah Schultz has looked sharp to begin the campaign at Triple-A and could contend for his MLB debut much sooner than expected this season. The southpaw has appeared in two Triple-A games (one start) and logged nine innings while allowing just one run. He has walked only two hitters and racked up 10 punchouts. This is an excellent sign for his development as the budding ace struggled in his first taste of Triple-A in 2025, logging a hefty 9.37 ERA with a 1.96 WHIP over a short 16 1/3-inning stint. He spent most of the 2025 season with Double-A Birmingham, where he held a 3.34 ERA with a modest 1.59 WHIP over 56 2/3 innings. If Schultz can continue to improve his command and enjoy steady production, he should debut in the coming months.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
April 3, 2026
Chicago Blackhawks left wing Nick Lardis injured his left hand late in Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Edmonton Oilers, Jack Bushman of Chicago Hockey Now reports. Teammate Teuvo Teravainen hit him on the hand with a shot. Lardis netted Chicago's lone goal of the game five minutes into the third frame. The 20-year-old rookie has totaled 14 points (nine goals, five assists) in 35 games this season. He has lit the lamp four times in his last seven appearances, but it's unclear whether he will get a chance to maintain his form on Saturday against Seattle. If he's healthy enough to play, Andrew Mangiapane (upper body) might be an option to fill in for Lardis. The veteran has been out for a couple of weeks but is traveling with the team.
--Taavi PailkSource: Jack Bushman
April 3, 2026
Milwaukee Brewers infield prospect
Jett Williams fell just short of making the Opening Day roster out of camp, but should be in the mix to earn the call to Milwaukee in the near future. Williams was the centerpiece of one of the prominent trades this offseason that sent
Freddy Peralta to the New York Mets. Williams was competing alongside
Joey Ortiz,
Luis Rengifo, and
David Hamilton for a role at either the hot corner or shortstop on the MLB roster, but was unable to find a role. Williams enjoyed a hot start with Triple-A Nashville, tallying at least one hit in each of his first three games, but he has gone hitless over his last two. Last summer, he looked quite comfortable at Double-A, posting a .281/.390/.477 line with a .867 OPS, before posting a low .718 OPS at Triple-A Syracuse. Given that Ortiz held a low .230 AVG over 149 games last season and Hamilton has opened the campaign going 2-for-12, Williams should make his MLB debut sooner, rather than later.
--Andy SmithSource: MiLB.com
RADIO
